H atvi, 

s-s. 


World’s  Sunday  School  Association 

216  METROPOLITAN  TOWER,  NEW  YORK 


W.  G.  LANDES.  C.E.D..  New  York 
GENERAL  SECRETARY 

W.  C.  PEARCE.  L.H  D..  New  York 
ASSOCIATE  GENERAL  SECRETARY 

SAMUEL  D.  PRICE.  D D . New  YORK 
assistant  Secretary 


HON.  J.  J.  MACLAREN.  D.C.L.,  LL.D.,  TORONTO 
PRESIDENT 

ARTHUR  M.  HARRIS.  New  York 
chairman 

PAUL  STURTEVANT.  New  YORK 
TREASURER 


(Travel  Letter  following  a tour  around  South  America  by 
W.  C.  Pearce,  L.H.D.,  Associate  General  Secretary, 
World's  Sunday  School  Association) 


My  dear  Friend: 


September  3,  1923. 


In  the  providence  of  God  I have  been  permitted  to  visit  our  sister 
continent  - South  America.  Earnestly  have  I sought  to  see  for  you  and 
other  Sunday-school  friends;  prayerfully  have  I sought  to  rightly  interpret 
what  I saw  and  to  discover  what  our  World's  Sunday  School  Association  could 
do  to  help.  Now  I am  trying  to  write  you  about  those  things  which  would  be 
of  special  interest  to  you  as  a friend  of  Christ  and  the  Sunday-school. 

I am  sure  you  will  understand  that  I can  only  write  a partial  account. 

My  visit  took  me  to  Panama,  Peru,  Chile,  Argentina,  Uruguay  and 
Brazil.  These  include  by  far  the  largest  part  of  the  South  American 
population.  What  is  done  for  the  Sunday-school  work  of  the  other  countries 
will  be  largely  determined  by  the  work  in  those  I visited.  A few  general 
observations  may  be  of  interest  as  they  form  a sort  of  background  for  the 
work  we  have  to  do. 

1.  The  natural  resources  have  scarcely  been  tapped.  The  clearing 
of  the  Canal  Zone  and  introduction  of  gardening,  fruit  culture,  etc., 
reveals  untold  possibilities  for  Panama  and  all  similar  countries.  We 
passed  one  mining  camp  in  Peru  and  they  pointed  out  one  mountain  of  copper 
which  will  keep  the  company  busy  fifty  years.  And  that  is  only  a very 
small  portion  of  this  one  company's  holdings.  In  Chile  and  Argentina  we 
passed  single  farms  that,  if  divided  into  farms  of  300  acres  each  and  four 
people  put  on  each  farm,  would  provide  homes  for  15,000  people.  And  these 
were  much  smaller  than  others.  Brazil  will  no  doubt  provide  homes  for 
100,000,000  people  within  the  next  century. 

2.  The  growth  of  religious  liberty  is  steady  and  sure.  The  leaven 
of  evangelical  Christian  teaching  is  gradually  breaking  the  crust  of 
tradition.  Just  before  we  reached  Peru  there  had  been  a sort  of  revolution. 
It  came  about  in  this  way.  The  Archbishop  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church, 
with  the  evident  support  of  the  government,  announced  that  on  a certain  day 
he  would  consecrate  to  the  heart  of  Jesus  the  whole  population  of  Peru. 
Immediately  there  was  a popular  protest  led  by  students  of  the  University 
and  the  workingmen.  Arrangements  for  a procession  and  public  meeting 

were  made.  As  these  men  marched  up  the  streets  of  Lima,  they  were  halted 
and  fired  upon.  Amongst  those  killed  were  a student  and  a workman.  The 
government  soldiers  tried  to  get  possession  of  the  bodies  of  these  men, 
give  them  a quick  and  secret  burial  and  prevent  any  demonstration  in  con- 
nection with  their  funeral.  But  they  failed  and  all  night  long  the 
students  and  workmen,  more  than  a hundred  strong  inside  of  the  University 
building,  guarded  the  bodies  of  their  murdered  friends.  After  midnight  the 
army  came  and  demanded  the  bodies.  The  student  leader  told  the  army 


officials  that  they  could  not  have  them,  that  if  they  broke  into  the  Uni- 
versity, it  would  be  a violation  of  the  national  constitution,  and  that 
they,  the  students  and  workmen,  would  burn  the  University  and  all  of  them 
die  with  it.  At  2 a.m.  the  President  of  the  Republic  came  and  called  off 
the  army.  The  next  day  a great  public  funeral  was  held  with  a funeral 
procession  of  approximately  10,000  people.  The  order  for  the  consecration 
service  was  withdrawn  and  the  Archbishop  took  an  early  ship  for  Rome. 

Why  I could  not  learn. 

The  significant  fact  is  that  even  in  backward  Peru,  the  attempt  to 
trespass  upon  religious  freedom  utterly  failed.  And  the  protest  came  from 
students  and  workmen  led  by  the  President  of  the  Students  Federation, 
a young  man  twenty-six  years  old,  who  had  been  a student  in  the  British 
Mission  School  under  the  leadership  of  Dr.  Mackay.  It  was  here  he  caught 
his  vision  of  Christ  that  inspires  him  now.  It  was  this  Christ  in  his 
heart  that  led  him  as  a student  leader  to  extend  the  work  of  night  classes 

which  explains  why  the  workmen  follow  him  now.  When  I was  there  he  was  in 

hiding  but  it  was  my  privilege  to  see  and  talk  with  him.  His  face  shone 
with  the  light  and  love  that  was  in  his  soul.  I congratulated  him  upon  his 

ministry  in  behalf  of  religious  liberty  and  his  fine  spirit,  for  in  his 

funeral  oration  at  the  graves  of  his  comrades  and  in  all  of  his  conversa- 
tions, he  breathes  only  love  for  his  enemies.  This  is  only  one  instance 
which  illustrates  the  struggle  going  on  and  the  part  our  mission  schools 
have  in  the  progress  being  made. 

3.  Progress  is  also  being  made  in  temperance  reform.  A striking 
instance  is  the  leadership  of  President  Alassandri  of  Chile.  He  himself  is 
a total  abstainer  and  an  avowed  advocate  of  prohibition.  During  the  recent 
Pan-American  conference  at  Santiago,  he  gave  a dinner  to  the  delegates  from 
“the  United  States  and  served  no  strong  drinks.  Judge  of  my  indignation  to 

learn  that  afterwards  a dinner  was  given  by  Mr.  Fletcher,  leader  of  the 
U.  S.  delegation,  and  drinks  were  served.  President  Alassandri  was  present 
and  turned  down  his  glass.  President  Alassandri  was  out  when  I called  but 
I left  my  official  card  with  a personal  word  of  congratulation  upon  his 
splendid  stand  in  favor  of  the  moral  issues  of  our  day. 

4.  Considerable  progress  is  being  made  in  behalf  of  education. 

Increasingly  large  plans  are  being  made  to  provide  public  schools.  We  saw 

school  buildings  that  would  do  credit  to  any  community  or  nation.  The 
requirements  for  the  professions  are  being  continually  raised.  Opportuni- 
ties for  agricultural  and  mechanical  education  are  also  being  multiplied. 
Indeed  it  would  be  quite  easy  to  write  of  these  things  in  such  a way  as  to 
leave  the  impression  that  splendid  and  ample  provision  is  being  made  for 
the  intellectual  training  of  South  American  youth.  The  fact  is  that  this 
provision  is  in  spots.  It  is  most  difficult  for  South  American  leaders, 
bound  by  tradition  and  training  to  a policy  of  education  of  the  leaders 
ONLY,  to  become  enthusiastic  in  behalf  of  UNIVERSAL  education.  And  so  long 
as  from  60  to  80$  of  the  people  are  illiterate,  it  makes  religious  educ- 
ation more  difficult.  I could  not  help  but  recall  that  the  Robert  Raikes 

Sunday-school  was  organized  to  teach  the  youth  to  read  that  they  might  be 
able  to  read  the  Bible  and  that  the  early  Sunday-school  in  the  United 
States  taught  reading.  Then  I wondered  if  this  had  any  suggestion  for  the 
Sunday-school  movement  of  South  America. 

These  facts  are  mentioned  because  they  all  have  a very  direct 
bearing  upon  our  whole  Sunday-school  work.  It  is  impossible  to  mention 
all  of  the  fine  Sunday-school  workers  I met  or  to  describe  the  Sunday- 
schools  visited,  but  I will  seek  to  analyze  the  situation  and  illustrate 
with  the  facts  observed: 


1.  As  usual  we  found  the  Sunday-school  to  he  popular  with  the 
people.  Every  feature  of  the  modern  Sunday-school  we  found  in  operation. 
The  organization  of  mission  Sunday-schools  is  being  vigorously  pushed.  In 
Montevideo  we  visited  a mission  church  that  had  established  several  mission 
Sunday-schools,  one  of  them  meeting  in  one  room  of  the  home  of  a member  of 
the  church  and  another  in  a rented  one  room  adobe  residence.  At  Juiz-de- 
Fora,  Brazil,  we  visited  several  mission  Sunday-schools,  one  of  them  meet- 
ing under  the  shade  of  bamboo  branches  which  had  been  placed  in  the  earth 
so  that  the  tops  formed  an  overhead  canopy.  There  is  almost  unlimited 
opportunity  for  this  type  of  work. 

2.  Everywhere  there  is  an  expressed  need  for  the  preparation  of 
indigenous  lesson  courses  and  the  development  of  an  adequate  literature  in 
the  language  and  atmosphere  of  these  countries.  Many  suggestions  were  made 
as  to  what  was  needed.  Much  is  now  being  done  but  all  felt  the  need  of  a 
more  thorough  study  of  this  phase  of  their  work.  I gave  much  study  as  to 
what  is  being  done,  what  needs  to  be  done  and  as  to  the  wisest  method  of 
doing  it.  The  competent  leadership,  both  native  and  missionary,  which  I 
found,  is  our  best  hope  that  it  can  be  done.  They  will  welcome  and  will 
need  the  help  of  our  leaders  in  curricula  building,  editing  and  publishing. 

3.  The  most  vital  need  is  leadership  and  heroic  efforts  are  being 
made  to  meet  it.  The  mission  high  schools  and  colleges  are  working 
steadily  to  this  end.  Their  fine  educational  leadership  gives  to  them 
entree  to  the  best  families.  I met  a young  lady  of  this  type  in  Rio.  She 
had  been  converted  in  a mission  school  and  was  giving  special  attention  to 
story  telling.  In  the  fall  she  comes  to  the  states  for  her  college  train- 
ing and  it  is  the  hope  of  her  friends  that  she  will  become  a leader  in  the 
story  work  for  children.  Here  we  long  to  mention  the  names  of  all  these 
schools  and  their  fine  work  of  real  leadership  training.  Not  being  able 
to,  we  mention  none.  Then  the  churches  are  organizing  training  classes  in 
the  individual  Sunday-schools.  Institutes  are  also  being  conducted. 

Indeed  my  heart  was  made  to  continually  rejoice  to  find  this  type  of  work 
all  along  the  line. 

4.  But  perhaps  best  of  all  is  the  high  type  of  leadership  both 
native  and  missionary,  working  in  each  country.  Not  enough  of  them,  but 
devoted  and  capable  and  far-visioned  men.  By  unanimous  vote  of  the  confer- 
ences in  Peru  and  Chile,  steps  were  taken  to  create  national  committees  to 
be  in  contact  with  the  World's  Sunday  School  Association  and  to  supervise 
the  development  of  national  Sunday-school  organizations.  Similar  action 
was  taken  at  Montevideo.  Argentina  and  Brazil  already  had  national  organi- 
zations. The  high  grade  work  being  done  by  these  organizations  may  be 
illustrated  by  the  State  Conventions  I attended  at  Rosario,  Argentina  and 
Juiz-de-Fora , Brazil.  Rev.  George  P.  Howard,  General  Secretary  of  Argen- 
tina and  Uruguay,  and  Rev.  H.  S.  Harris,  General  Secretary  of  Brazil,  are 
doing  a marvelous  piece  of  work.  Their  statesmanship  gives  them  the  con- 
fidence of  the  Christian  leaders  and  their  choice  Christian  spirit  has  won 
the  love  of  all.  Rev.  H.  C.  Stuntz,  who  is  filling  Mr.  Howard's  place 
while  the  latter  is  on  furlough,  made  all  my  appointments  on  the  West 
Coast,  Argentina  and  Uruguay.  In  the  few  years  he  has  been  there,  he  has 
ma.de  a very  great  contribution  to  literature  development  and  leadership 
training.  Long  live  Howard,  Harris,  Stuntz  and  their  associates  in  both 
office  and  field. 

All  the  nations  visited  expressed  a desire  for  a World's  Sunday 
School  Convention,  to  be  held  in  South  America  at  some  future  date,  and  I 
should  not  be  surprised  if  representatives  at  Glasgow  seek  it  for  1928. 

The  splendid  steamship  service  we  now  have  from  Europe  and  North  America 


direct  to  South  America  makes  this  much  more  practicable  than  it  would 
have  been  a few  years  ago. 

The  trip  has  been  strenuous,  for  much  of  travel  and  work  was 
crowded  into  less  than  four  months.  Three  centers  in  Peru,  five  centers 
in  Chile,  five  centers  in  Argentina,  one  in  Uruguay  and  five  in  Brazil  kept 
me  pretty  busy.  But  so  many  doors  for  service  were  opened  so  wide  and  the 
Father  gave  daily  strength,  that  my  heart  is  full  of  gratitude.  But  I also 
feel  very  keenly  our  Sunday-school  responsibility.  More  and  better  litera- 
ture for  teachers  and  pupils  must  be  prepared.  A larger  investment  is 
needed  in  behalf  of  leadership  training  and  in  many  of  the  fields,  a move- 
ment for  the  organization  of  mission  schools  should  be  vigorously  pushed. 

To  do  this  will  require  a larger  staff  of  men  giving  their  whole  time  to 
the  work.  Will  you  not  pray  that  new  friends  may  be  found  and  the  old 
friends  renew  and  enlarge  their  gifts.  If  you  are  not  now  contributing, 
will  you  not  become  one?  The  work  not  only  needs  it  but  the  consciousness 
of  your  comradeship  in  financial  support  would  increase  our  courage. 

Will  you  pray  for  Drs . Landes  and  Price,  and  myself,  that  our  faith 
may  increase  and  our  zeal  be  daily  renewed. 

Faithfully  yours, 


(Signed)  W.  C.  PEARCE. 


